Digital violence has become a daily threat for many young women in Bangladesh, with cases of harassment, intimidation, and sexually explicit messages rising sharply both online and offline, according to new data from UN Women Asia and the Pacific. In a Facebook post on 26 November, the agency warned that abusive messages frequently follow women from social media into their real-world environments, creating a climate of fear that has worsened since the political upheaval of 2024.
UN Women Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, have launched an interactive online drama aimed at helping young people understand and respond to digital violence. The platform, which thousands have already used, lets participants guide fictional characters through scenarios involving online harassment, reporting abuse and navigating social pressures. Daily Sun reported that insights from this tool are already being used to inform broader prevention strategies across the country.
According to UN Women, choices made by young participants reveal how everyday decisions, whether supporting someone facing abuse or minimizing their concerns, can either reinforce harm or contribute to positive change. A key finding shows that many young people do not recognize online bullying or workplace harassment as forms of gender-based violence. Others admitted they would rather handle such incidents privately due to fear of stigma, instead of seeking help or reporting the abuse.
As threats continue to evolve, the initiative has expanded under the global 16 Days of Activism campaign. A new storyline now centers around a young woman contesting an election, who faces trolling, deep fake attacks and targeted political intimidation issues increasingly affecting women in public life in Bangladesh.
Civil society partners have emphasized that the right to justice must extend into the digital sphere. They are calling for stronger legal safeguards, improved data collection and effective mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
UN Women said the findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive action to protect young women from digital violence and to ensure safe online spaces as Bangladesh’s digital population continues to grow.
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